Gillette proves that cultural relevance is key to a brand’s future performance April 29, 2019 In an age of so much cultural change, it’s vital that brands regularly take stock of their “relevance” in current society. For a 117-year old brand like Gillette, exploring what masculinity actually means in this day and age was essential for its continued existence. Gillette is a brand that used to be only about the [...]
Avengers, Assemble – Marvel’s superhero franchise can teach your business how to tackle digital disruption April 29, 2019 It’s fair to assume that for Marvel fans sitting down to watch the recently released Avengers: Endgame, their first thought won’t be what it teaches us about digital disruption – they’ll be wondering how the dream team will defeat the Mad Titan Thanos, and who will still be standing when the credits roll. However, with [...]
Hostelworld booking growth slows as firm implements turnaround plan April 29, 2019 Travel booking site Hostelworld reported slowing bookings growth as the firm implements a plan to return to profit. Gross bookings grew four per cent, the company said in its annual report this morning, however overall group bookings were flat due to the managed decline on the group’s supporting brands offsetting the growth in the Hostelworld [...]
Boeing CEO Muilenburg set to face shareholders at AGM as 737 Max woes continue April 29, 2019 Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg is set to face shareholders later for the first time since the second of two fatal crashes involving the firm’s 737 Max plane which killed a total of 346 people. Read more: Airbus and Boeing set for record-breaking year Muilenburg will hold a press conference after Boeing’s annual shareholder meeting [...]
Brits snub EU countries for summer holidays amid prolonged Brexit uncertainty, Thomas Cook reveals April 29, 2019 Fewer Brits are travelling to EU countries for their summer holidays as the UK’s prolonged Brexit process has encouraged holidaymakers to expand their horizons, according to Thomas Cook. Read more: Tory party chairman hints at another Brexit vote Both Turkey and Tunisia have benefited from dwindling interest in the EU, the travel agent said today [...]
Philips’ success in emerging markets held back by subdued sales in Europe and US April 29, 2019 Dutch health tech firm Philips shares rose 1.2 per cent this morning despite missing analyst expectations on sales growth in its first-quarter results. The firm, which has shed consumer electronics and lighting divisions in recent years to streamline as a health specialist, was hit by falling demand for hospital equipment in Europe and flat US [...]
Non-Standard Finance extends deadline for Provident shareholders to accept £1.3bn hostile takeover April 29, 2019 Non-Standard Finance (NSF) has set 15 May as its final closing date to secure its hostile takeover of rival Provident Financial, urging shareholders to back it to break the “status quo”. Read more: Provident lashes out at 'unlawful' NSF payments amid takeover dispute The new date signals a week’s delay to the previous deadline to [...]
Storage specialist Lok’n Store hopes to secure more new sites as expansion continues April 29, 2019 Aim-listen storage firm Lok’n Store’s shares rose this morning as it announced it is looking to branch out with more premises, amid rising profit and revenue. The company, which has 31 stores trading, will try to build on this in the coming months, with eight new sites in the pipeline around the UK as the [...]
Tech giants urged to work with government in online harms battle April 29, 2019 Facebook, Google and Snapchat should use their technology to work with the government on tackling harmful content online, health secretary Matt Hancock will say today. The health secretary will challenge social media giants to make greater progress in protecting vulnerable users at a second UK summit between tech firms and internet providers, held as part [...]
Top banks inject $9m into London fintech startup Mosaic Smart Data April 29, 2019 The venture capital arm of Commerzbank and London investor Octopus Ventures have co-led a $9m (£7m) funding round into fintech startup Mosaic Smart Data. Existing backer and client JP Morgan also participated in the round, adding to its minority stake in the startup. The bank signed a multi-year deal to use Mosaic’s technology – which [...]